Senior Naval Appointments Announced
Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma will take over as the Flag officer
commander-in-chief of the Eastern Naval Command from Vice Admiral
Raman P Suthan, who in turn will take over as Vice Chief of Naval
Staff on completion of an illustrious tenure as C-in-C of the Eastern
Naval Command.
The Eastern seaboard has gained prominence in the recent past and
this is witnessed by the increasing engagement with immediate regional
neighbours like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore,
Thailand and other states of South East Asia.
Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01
Jul 1970. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he is a
specialist in Communications and Electronics Warfare. During his
career spanning over 37 years, he has served in various afloat and
shore appointments.
As a Communications specialist, he has served as the Fleet
Communication Officer of the Western Fleet, and at the Directorate of
Naval Signals. His command tenures include INS Udaygiri (Leander
Class Frigates), INS Ranvir (Destroyer) and the Aircraft Carrier INS
Viraat. He has also commanded the Indian Naval Academy, INS Mandovi.
The Flag Officer is a graduate of the Royal Naval Staff College,
Greenwich, UK, and thereafter served as the Head of the Training Team
at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He is also a graduate
of the US Naval War College, after which he has served as Senior
Directing Staff (Navy) at the National Defence College, New Delhi.
He has been the Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval
Command and the Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Naval Area. The
Flag Officer later served at Naval Headquarters as Assistant Chief of
Naval Staff (Policy and Plans).
On being promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral, he was appointed
Chief of Personnel in Nov 2005. He took over as Vice Chief of Naval
Staff on 30 Nov 06.
Vice Admiral Suthan, who was earlier the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
and at present is the C-in-C of the Eastern Naval Command, brings with
him excellent operational training and admin planning experience that
would be crucial to shaping the Navy of tomorrow.
The Admiral was born on 14 Aug 1949. He is an alumnus of the
National Defence Academy, Khadakvasala and was commissioned in the
Indian Navy in July 1970. He saw action early in life as the
Navigating Officer of INS Kavaratti, which took active part in Eastern
Fleet operations off erstwhile East Pakistan in 1971. After
specialisation in Navigation and Direction, he has held various staff,
instructional, operational and command appointments. The Flag Officer
is a graduate of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College,
Wellington. During his long and illustrious career, Vice Admiral Raman
P Suthan has commanded five ships of different size and capabilities.
His other important assignment at sea includes Fleet Navigation
Officer of Eastern Fleet. As Flag Officer, he has been Flag Officer
Commanding Eastern Fleet, one of the two sword arms of the Navy.
Ashore, his appointments include Chief Staff Officer (Training) in
Southern Naval Command in 1991-92 and Defence Advisor at High
Commission of India, Singapore from 1993-96. The Flag Officer has been
widely associated with the personnel policies of the Navy, having held
the appointments of the Director of Personnel, Assistant Chief of
Personnel (Human Resources Development) and Controller Personnel
Services at Naval Headquarters for over four years. He has had the
unique distinction of being Chief of Staff of two Commands, Southern
and Eastern Naval Command and hence had a wide range of
administrative, training and operational experience. It was during his
appointment as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command that the
successful and highly acclaimed post-tsunami relief operations on the
Eastern seaboard were undertaken.
VAdm Raman P Suthan is a recipient of Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM)
and Vishist Seva Medal (VSM) for his highly distinguished service.
NKS/AK
(Release ID :36678)